Uncertainty reduction as an alternative explanation of historical myths

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Abstract

We agree with Sijilmassi and colleagues that historical myths are a tool for coalition recruitment. We argue, however, that a close fit between an evolved entity and an identified function does not imply that the latter is the critical evolutionary trigger. We also propose an alternative individual-centric explanation: Historical myths reduce uncertainty by providing cognitive and behavioral guidance.

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europepmc
last seen: 2026-05-20T01:45:00.602351+00:00
unpaywall
last seen: 2026-05-30T02:00:01.510937+00:00
License: Public-Domain